palpable
pal·pa·ble (p
l
p
-bl)
adj.
1. Capable of being handled, touched, or felt; tangible: “Anger rushed out in a palpable wave through his arms and legs”(Herman Wouk).
2. Easily perceived; obvious: “There was a palpable sense of expectation in the court” (Nelson DeMille). See Synonyms at perceptible.
3. Medicine That can be felt by palpating: a palpable tumor.
[Middle English, from Old French, from Late Latin palp
bilis, from Latin palpre, to touch gently; see pl- in Indo-European roots.]
pal
pa·bili·ty n.
palpa·bly adv.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition copyright ©2000 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Updated in 2009. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
Adj. |
1. |
palpable – capable of being perceived; especially capable of being handled or touched or felt; “a barely palpable dust”; “felt sudden anger in a palpable wave”; “the air was warm and close–palpable as cotton”; “a palpable lie”perceptible – capable of being perceived by the mind or senses; “a perceptible limp”; “easily perceptible sounds”; “perceptible changes in behavior”impalpable – imperceptible to the senses or the mind; “an impalpable cloud”; “impalpable shadows”; “impalpable distinctions”; “as impalpable as a dream” |
2. |
palpable – can be felt by palpation; “a palpable tumor”medical specialty, medicine – the branches of medical science that deal with nonsurgical techniquesperceptible – capable of being perceived by the mind or senses; “a perceptible limp”; “easily perceptible sounds”; “perceptible changes in behavior” |
Based on WordNet 3.0, Farlex clipart collection. © 2003-2008 Princeton University, Farlex Inc.
